I ran across this prayer on generosity by Ignatius the other day. It impacted me, and I want to share it with you.
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.
What part of the prayer impacts you the most? What will it take for you to genuinely and honestly pray this prayer?
valerie offiong on December 1, 2009 at 4:32 am
When we recognize all that The Lord has given us freely. It becomes easier to give to others freely as we reflect His charater.
Ignatian_Friend on December 11, 2009 at 9:46 am
Although this is a lovely prayer, it is unlikely that Ignatius wrote it. Here is an excerpt from something I read recently:
“… it has been said that the delegates of the Thirty second General Congregation [worldwide gathering of Jesuit representatives; only 35 of them in 480 years] initially intended to conclude the decree “Jesuits Today” with the “Prayer for Generosity” frequently attributed to Ignatius and widely popularized by its inscription on holy cards. However, because of doubts raised regarding the authenticity of the prayer as genuinely Ignatian, the “Suscipe” (“Take, O Lord, and Receive …”) was chosen instead. … Apart from the absence of historical evidence to verify the authorship of the “Prayer of Generosity,” its content cases serious doubts about whether it actually flowed from Ignatius’s pen. Phrases such as “to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest” sound antithetical to Ignatius’s understanding of ministry as God’s labor in all of creation for us. These words also are alien to his desire that we strive to be “contemplative even in action.” … Furthermore, the “Prayer for Generosity” seems to contradict what Ignatius proposes in the Constitutions as the norm of Jesuit action, i.e., discreta caritas. Ignatius realized that law can only comment on the generality of situations and that the individual on the scene must often be left to determine what exactly should be done in concrete situations. In these cases, he suggests that “discreet charity” be the norm of action. This concept reflects Ignatius’s concern for the integration of thinking, feeling, and action.”
This excerpt was from Ignatian Service: Gratitude and Love in Action (from Studies in The Spirituality of Jesuits, Summer 2008) by Wilkie Au.
I hope that this is helpful to people.
joyce on December 18, 2009 at 12:45 pm
This indeed is a wonderful prayer that expresses the heart of one who lives for God. Thank you, Marvin, for sharing this prayer because it challenges me to not complain when troubles DO come from standing for what is right and to be generous in my heart, not just with my finances. I am, and will be, rereading this Bible study to get my heart check-up.
roseofGod on December 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm
“and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.”
For me asking not to think of the cost, or toiling isn’t usually the problem as is constantly being in doubt of whether or not I am doing His will. No doubt as most people, I have trouble with all of those from time to time but the last strikes me. I am often so determined to do the good and perfect will of God that I become blind-sided with the obsession of doing His -exact- will, not remembering that He is the one who directs my steps. It can be a challenge sometimes to just be still, and listen for what it is He wants me to do- or, to listen when He tells me and to do it when He tells me. Doubt is a terrible plague that preceeds the kingdom I think.
shayskin on January 1, 2010 at 10:19 am
Thank for the pray Marvin
The whole pray give me knowledge of what God want me to do everyday of my life.
It would take me just learning it so i can say it everyday and live by the words i am saying
I give God the glory in my life
Naomi on January 29, 2010 at 3:17 am
Thank you for this prayer, Marvin. It renews my
faith in God. I will forward it to a lot of friends and
relatives who need it at such a difficult time in our
lives!
God be with us all! Naomi
shayskin on February 3, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Teach me serve as you as you deserve
Just what I am doing now greading my bible and pray to alway have God in my life
God get the glory